As BJP questions ‘missing Rs 12,000 cr’, Cheema says ‘got only Rs 1,582 cr since 2022 under SDRF’

The Cabinet minister’s remarks came as the AAP government in Punjab is facing questions from opposition parties, including the BJP, over Rs 12,000 crore of disaster relief fund.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for Punjab in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore already in the state’s kitty, state BJP leader Tarun Chugh Thursday asked where is Rs 12,000 crore of SDRF.

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring had Wednesday asked the Mann dispensation to provide details about the fund, alleging that it diverted the money to some other heads.

Cheema, Thursday, hit back at the BJP, accusing it of trying to spread false propaganda against the AAP government over SDRF. In a statement, Cheema claimed that the BJP was misleading the people on disaster relief funds.

He said, “BJP leaders have been shamelessly peddling lies to defame the AAP government. The truth is now before the people, and every single rupee received and spent from SDRF is in the public domain. Unlike the BJP, which thrives on deceit and diversion, we believe in transparency and accountability.” Sharing year-wise details of the SDRF funds received from the Centre, Cheema said the state government received Rs 208 crore in 2022-23 and spent Rs 61 crore out of it.

In 2023-24, the state received Rs 645 crore and spent Rs 420 crore while in 2024-25, it got Rs 488 crore and Rs 27 crore were spent. In 2025-26, it received Rs 241 crore and Rs 140 crore were spent, the minister said.

“From April 1, 2022, to September 10, 2025, the Punjab government received a total of Rs 1,582 crore from Centre under SDRF. Of this, Rs 649 crore was spent on various relief and rehabilitation works across the state, while the remaining are being used for ongoing and upcoming relief operations to ensure timely assistance to flood affected people,” he said.

Lashing out at BJP leaders, Cheema said, “Those who never stood for Punjab have no moral right to question us. They have been running a malicious campaign, hiding the real facts, and misleading the people in times of crisis just to score political points.” He dared Punjab BJP leaders to answer why the Centre has been withholding thousands of crores of Punjab’s legitimate dues under various heads.

Meanwhile, elaborating on compensation break-up, a senior government official told The Indian Express that the National Disaster Management Fund (NDMF) provides compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh for a house collapse due to a natural disaster, Rs 65,000 for a partial collapse, and Rs 2,500 for household goods washed away. For death of milch animals, the fund offers up to Rs 37,500 for a buffalo or cow and Rs 4,000 for a sheep or goat.

“These amounts cover less than 50 per cent of the actual losses. This has led CM Bhagwant Mann to urge the Centre for relaxed compensation norms. The meagre payouts have caused Rs 12,000 crore to accumulate in the NDMF over the past two decades. One cannot even construct a room in Rs 1.20 lakh these days. What is Rs 2500 compensation for damage of household goods? What all can you buy for Rs 2500? A buffalo does not cost less than Rs 1 lakh. Similar is the case with a cow. How is this fair compensation,” he asked.

Even days after the PM announced Rs 1,600 crore relief, the Punjab government is still waiting for guidelines under which the amount would be given. The state fears that if it is a part of Disaster Management Fund, then it would not get accumulated and it will not be of any benefit until there is some amendment in the rules for spending it.

Every five years, the Finance Commission in its report recommends giving money in two instalments to the Centre and State in the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and this amount is also increased by five per cent or more every year but no changes are made in the rules of disaster management. Lion’s share of funds is carried forward next year.

The meagre sum prescribed in the norms, prompted the state government to announce a compensation of Rs 20,000 for farmers suffering crop loss on every acre of land. The Centre’s norms provide only Rs 6800 as compensation if 75 per cent to 100 per cent crop damage is established.

In case of damage to roads and bridges in case of a disaster, the Centre provides Rs 1 lakh for every km of state highway. For rural roads, the compensation is only Rs 65,000. If a school building is damaged then Rs 2 lakh are provided as compensation. Similar amount is paid for a primary health centre.

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